Although many of the
Plymouth newspapers carried Devonport as part of their titles, only one
paper was actually produced and printed in the Borough - The Devonport
Independent and Plymouth and Stonehouse Gazette.

Published initially by
Mr William Gilborn Byers, at 116
Fore Street, the first edition was issued
on Saturday February 9th 1833. The price of the newspaper was seven
pence, of which four pence was the newspaper stamp duty. It supported
the Liberal political viewpoint. At first it was apparently compiled
by purchasing a copy of "The Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal" and
copying the news from it, which quickly upset the proprietors of that paper,
of course.

Following the death of Mr
Byers, the copyright and plant was first offered for sale but later sold at
auction on Tuesday April 25th 1854 to a Mr Croydon for £310, it transpiring
that he had purchased it on behalf of its manager, Mr Andrew William Boolds.
The list of type that formed part of the sale is of interest: nonpareil,
minion, bourgeois, double pica and some "fancy type". The plant consisted
of a Napier Patent Gripper Machine, a Royal Columbian Press and a Double
Royal Columbian Press with inking tables and rollers.

Under Mr Boolds'
management, which started with the issue of Saturday May 13th 1854, the
paper's standing in the community soared. It was increased in size to eight
pages and the price was eventually brought down to one penny. He moved the
office to Saint Aubyn Street, stared to issue an edition on Wednesdays and
opened a branch office at number 5 Frankfort Street in Plymouth.

In 1891, with the help and
support of some of his political friends, Mr Henry Francis Whitfeld formed
the Devon and Cornwall Newspaper Company in order to acquire the newspaper.
The last issue as the Devonport Independent and Plymouth and Stonehouse
Gazette was dated Saturday August 29th 1891 and from Saturday September 5th
1891 it became "The Western Independent".